Taiwan CDC

Hsinchu, Taiwan
International Competition, Honorable Mention

As a literal extension of the established green belt, the CDC orients itself around a large public courtyard, becoming the symbolic gateway into the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park. Its embracing form welcomes visitors arriving by train and on foot, and spurs interaction between researchers and the public. Furthering the team’s desire to transform the building into a sustainable public amenity, the green belt lifts to become a highly visible and occupiable landscape roof, and in doing so, maintains the equivalent of nearly the entire site as open space. A public path ascends the landscape roof and is threaded through the building, affording glimpses into the inner workings of the CDC.

While the design of the CDC presents a relaxed feeling of public accessibility, it is also highly efficient in its organization and security. To fulfill the desire for efficiency in its logistical arrangement, the majority of labs are stacked in the tower in order to utilize a central circulation spine for dedicated service and waste removal. The pedestrian path encircles the tower while an elegant, high-performance metal façade frames views to the exterior, simultaneously shielding the interior from excessive solar exposure.

The new CDC design offers a holistic view of operational efficiency and conservation of resources. For instance, access to natural light within all functions will enhance the psychological well being of workers, improving their productivity and the overall sustainability of the facility. Solar power collection systems, water reclamation strategies, natural landscape, ecological education, and energy optimization collectively create a structure that actively seeks harmony with its site.

Performed while partner at Studio Shift
Thornton Tomasetti (structural)
Ideas for the Built Environment (mep/sustainability) Research Facilities Design (laboratory)
SWA Group (Landscape), Davis Langdon (cost)